A surveillance apparatus continuously records imaged data from a camera into a circular buffer in a local memory. When a record signal is received, the system records the video stream that was recorded before the record signal was received, and the video stream that is recorded after the record signal was received. The recorded segment is then write-protected, so that the surveillance apparatus does not overwrite the recorded segment. The recorded segment could then be sent to a remote memory via a wireless connection to free up local memory for future recording sessions.

A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display.

A digital security surveillance system allows a user to store selected security surveillance feeds while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another feed. User control commands are accepted and sent through the system. The system parses the resulting digital stream and generates identifying information associated with at least one video segment of the digital stream. The video segments are stored on a storage device. When a security surveillance feed is requested for display, a corresponding stored digital stream is found and its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts the digital stream into display output signals. The security surveillance feeds can be simultaneously sent to an external storage device such as a DVD recorder or VCR.

A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display.

A method of storing a substantially real time stream of information signals arranged in separate, consecutive data packets of digital format on a disc like record carrier. A new stream pack (S_PCK) is defined comprising a pack header and a multiple of source packets containing said data packets with corresponding added time stamps related to a time of arrival of said data packets. The pack header comprises data packet retrieval information, such as the number of new source packets in the stream pack and the effect of the start location of the first source packet in the stream pack. Preferably private stream 2 of the MPEG-format is employed for this new stream.

A digital security surveillance system allows a user to store selected security surveillance feeds while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another feed. User control commands are accepted and sent through the system. The system parses the resulting digital stream and generates identifying information associated with at least one video segment of the digital stream. The video segments are stored on a storage device. When a security surveillance feed is requested for display, a corresponding stored digital stream is found and its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts the digital stream into display output signals. The security surveillance feeds can be simultaneously sent to an external storage device such as a DVD recorder or VCR.

An object of the present invention is to realize an imaging device and recording control system in which the usability thereof can be improved dramatically. In an imaging device configured to output imaging data that is obtained as a result of imaging of an object, and a recording control system, the imaging device comprises a control means for recognizing a controlled state of an external recording device when a communication is enabled with the recording device through a communication means conforming to a predetermined transmission method and an input means for allowing the recording device to execute an application needed for a recording operation obtained by controlling the recording device, and the recording device records the imaging data obtained through the communication means when the application is executed by means of the input means.

A surveillance apparatus continuously records imaged data from a camera into a circular buffer in a local memory. When a record signal is received, the system records the video stream that was recorded before the record signal was received, and the video stream that is recorded after the record signal was received. The recorded segment is then write-protected, so that the surveillance apparatus does not overwrite the recorded segment. The recorded segment could then be sent to a remote memory via a wireless connection to free up local memory for future recording sessions.

An object of the present invention is to realize an imaging device and recording control system in which the usability thereof can be improved dramatically. In an imaging device configured to output imaging data that is obtained as a result of imaging of an object, and a recording control system, the imaging device comprises a control means for recognizing a controlled state of an external recording device when a communication is enabled with the recording device through a communication means conforming to a predetermined transmission method and an input means for allowing the recording device to execute an application needed for a recording operation obtained by controlling the recording device, and the recording device records the imaging data obtained through the communication means when the application is executed by means of the input means.

Write commands in a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive are efficiently executed when a write command and associated write data are received by an SMR HDD from a host while the target SMR band for storing the write data is undergoing a refresh operation. In response to the write command, the HDD suspends the refresh operation, stores the write data in nonvolatile memory, and informs the host that the write command has been completed. After the write data are stored in nonvolatile memory, the HDD resumes the refresh operation, and the remaining unrefreshed data in the target SMR band are refreshed by being rewritten to the spare SMR band. The nonvolatile memory can include the spare SMR band in some instances, the target SMR band in some instances, and in both the spare SMR band and the target SMR band in some instances.